Dispenser for article-containing envelopes



July 26, 1960 s. R. JOHNSON DISPENSER FOR ARTICLE-CONTAINING ENVELOPES Filed July 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l /LZWa/f f ATTORNEYS a if.. ...elle

July 26, 1960 s R, JoHNsoN 2,946,482

DISPENSER FOR ARTICLE-CONTAINING ENVELOPES Filed July 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VE/V TOR.'

@y Mmk ATTORNEYS.

United DISPENSER FOR ARTICLE-CONTAINING ENV ELOPES Stanley R. Johnson, 36 N. Madison St., La Grange, Ill. Filed July 2, 1957, Ser. No. 669,525

9 Claims. (Cl. 221-240) This invention relates to a dispenser and more particu- .larly to a dispenser for singly dispensing therefrom articlecontaining envelopes.

Recent years have seen a great rise in the popularity of singly-packaged sterile bandages. Heretofore, the packaging of such products has been to merely deposit a plurality of such singly-packaged bandages in a container, and providing access to said container through a lid therefor.

The present invention contemplates a totally new combination-package-and-dispenser for such articles, which dispenser is particularly attractive in that it provides means for singly dispensing the packaged sterile bandages therefrom.

Two existing features of such packaged sterile bandages are taken advantage of in the practice of this invention. One such feature is that the bandage is normally disposed in an envelope which is wider than the bandage, so that a longitudinal portion of the envelope is thinner than the remainder of the envelope wherein the bandage is located. The second such feature is that the longitudinal ends of the envelope are turned over to define overlapping flaps at the ends of the envelope. These aps are taken advantage of in that they are easily engaged by an ejector, and hence these flaps may be referred to as ejector-engaging-means.

Thus, one object of this invention is to provide a new and improved package for a plurality of article-containing envelopes, which package is provided with means for singly dispensing said article-containing envelopes therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination-package-and-dispenser for a plurality of articlecontaining envelopes wherein the dispenser takes advantage of existing features of such article-containing envelopes to provide a simple means for effecting single dispensing of said envelopes from said dispenser.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combination-package-and-dispenser for singly-packed sterile bandages which is characterized by its attractiveness, by its novel utility, by its inexpensiveness of construction, and by its efficiency of performance.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of one form of the dispenser of this invention, showing the lid of the container open and the container empty;

Figure 2 is similar to Figure l but shows the lid of the package closed and in the act of dispensing an articlecontaining envelope therefrom;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical, longitudinal crosssection view of the dispenser with the ejector means retracted;

Figure 4 isa fragmentary view, similar toa portion `of .Figure 3, showing theejector means extended and operating to dispense an envelope from the dispenser;

Figure 5 is a cross-section View taken substantially on line -5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan 'View of the end wall which partially denes the discharge opening of the dispenser;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-section view taken on line 7 7 of Figure 6, and with the lid of the container in closed position;

Figure -8 is a perspective view, similar in that respect to Figure 1, showing a modified form of the dispenser `of this invention;

Figure 9 is a vertical, longitudinal cross-section view of the dispenser of Figure 8;

Figure l0 is across-section view taken on line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure l1 is a top plan View vof the ejector element which is mounted on the lid of the dispenser of Figures 8-10; and

Figure 12 is a top plan View of the lid of the dispenser of Figures 8-10.

Referring now to the drawings, there are shown in VFigures 3-5 certain details of a packaged bandage, a plurality of which are to be packagedand disposed from the apparatusherein disclosed. Figures 3-5 show a stack of elongated, flattened, article-containing envelopes enclosed in one of the dispensers disclosed in this application. Each article-containing envelope A is elongated and flattened and carries therein .a bandage B. The width ofthe envelope A is greater than the width of the bandage B and hence longitudinal portions, namely the longitudinal edges .C of the envelope A, are thinner than the remainder, the center portion, of the envelope in which the bandage B .is disposed, as canbestbe seen in Figure 5. Each longitudinal end of envelope A has one or more folded over edges `D which .overlap the envelope. Some envelopes areprovided'with two folded over edges D on each end .of the envelope, while other envelopes may be provided with only one folded over edge. .In any event, this invention isto be practiced by stacking a plurality of such envelopes so that a folded over edge D is on the upper side of the envelope and is disposed adjacent the discharge end of the container, as will be hereinafter described. Said `folded overedge D serves an ejector-engaging means, as

utilized in .the herein described invention. r

The first formof device disclosed in this application is shown in Figures 1-7. The device is primarily a package, or casing-means, lgenerally indicated at 1t)` which de- .fines therein an elongated chamber 12 vwithinY which a through which envelopesY may besingly dispensed from within the casing.

`More specifically, the casing has a top 14, a bottom 16, opposite end walls 18 and .20, and opposite side walls g `22 and 2li. The top 14 also serves as the lid, or door,

for the open-sided container, or casing, 10, and the lid l14 `is hinged to the remainder of the casing by means of pins 26. The lid is adapted to be releasably latched to the casing in closed position as shown in Figure Vv2, 'and toward that end the lid 14 carries a pair of depending latch members 28 which are shaped to cooperate with notches 30 `formed in the outer faces of the side walls`22 and l2.4. Thelatch members 28 are adapted to be manually sprung outwardly from the position shown in Figure 5,t'o permit'of selectively opening the lid 14,

vas shown in Figure 1, to provide access to the chamber I bottom 16 by any appropriate means, such as by means of a pair of rivets 34.

As previously stated, there is a discharge opening from the casing 10. Said discharge opening is generally indicated at 36 and is formed between the upper edge of end wall 18 and the adjacent end of lid 14. The inner surface of the upper edge of end wall 18 is shaped to define a step or shoulder 38 disposed centrally of the end wall 18. The portions of said end wall 18 disposed laterally of the shoulder 38 are rounded at 40. The length of the shoulder 38 is at least equal to the width of the bandage B contained within the envelope A. With respect to the end of lid 14 which is adjacent end wall 18,

. said end of lid 14 has a reduced, or recessed, central portion 42 which extends generally coextensive with the shoulder 38 formed in the end wall 18.

The lid 14 also carries an ejector generally indicated at 44. The ejector 44 includes an ejector element 46 which is positioned within the casing, and a manual control button 48 for the ejector element which is positioned exteriorly of the lid 14. The ejector element 46 and the manual control button 48 are interconnected by means of a neck 50 which is positioned to move within a slot 52 defined in lid 14. The neck 50 is adapted to engage the ends of slot 52 to limit the length of movement of the ejector means 44 relative to the lid. The lid 14 is also formed with a pair of inwardly extending, elongated rails, or guides, 54 which cooperate with the lateral edges ment 46, at one end of its path, extends outwardly of the casing 10 through the discharge opening 36, as best seen in Figure 4, and at the other end of its path the ejector element 46 is withdrawn within the chamber 12 and is spaced from the discharge opening 36 to expose the abutment wall-portion 60 located adjacent the discharge opening.

The arrangement of parts defining the discharge opening 36, and the selection of the size of said discharge opening 36 is such as to insure only single dispensing of envelopes from the casing. Thus, if the neXt-to-top envelope tries to accompany the top envelope through the discharge portion shown in Figure 4, then the leading edge of the next-to-top envelope will strike the shoulder 33, and this will prevent theV second envelope from accompanying the top envelope. Furthermore, the discharge opening 36 is arranged and dimensioned to be wider in its center portion than at its end portions, so that the fingers 56 and the thinner portions C of only a single envelope may pass through the thinner end portions of the discharge opening. The space allowance, or recess, provided by reduced portion 42 in the lid 14, and by the arcuate recess 58 in the ejector element 46 permits of the longitudinal passage of the thicker portion of the envelope containing the bandage B therealong and through the discharge opening 36 when the ejector element is in its extended position shown in Figures 2 and 4. Thus, the various parts which cooperate tokdefine and limit the shape of the discharge opening 36, are properly shaped and defined to accommodate the passage of only a single envelope A through of the ejector element 46 to maintain the ejector element 46 aligned. The rails 54 serve as track means to maintain movement of the ejector element 46 along a predetermined path.

The operative end of ejector element 46 is shaped to define a pair of spaced extensions, or fingers, 56 which are arranged to overlie the thinner portions C of the envelope A, and which fingers 56 are adapted to engage portions of the crotch in the envelope formed between flap D and envelope A. The portion of the ejector element 46 located between the fingers 56 is arcuately recessed as shown at 58.

When the ejector means 44 are Withdrawn to the position shown in Figure 3, then a portion of the inner surface of lid 14 is exposed to dene an abutment Wallportion 60 against which the uppermost envelope of a stack of envelopes is pressed by means of spring 32. When the ejector element 44 is thrust forward as shown in Figure 4, then the uppermost one of the envelopes A 1s dispensed through the discharge opening 36, and the ejector element 46 is then interposed between the uppermost one of the stack of envelopes and the abutment wall-portion 60 of the container lid.

The length of neck 50 is such that when the manual control 48 engages the outer surface of lid 14, the ejector element 46 lies closely adjacent the inner surface of lid 14, except that the extended tips of lingers 56 are pitched slightly downwardly and spaced away from lid 14, and from abutment wall-portion 60 thereof, so as to insure that the tips of fingers 564 will slip under the flap D of the uppermost envelope A of a stack of envelopes, thus insuring that the ejector element 46 will properly engage and eject the uppermost envelope from the stack of envelopes. The provision of rounded portions 40 on end i wall 18 insures that the fingers 56 pass easily thereover and avoids lany interference between said fingers 56 and wall 18 as the ejector element 46 passes through discharge opening 36.

, The foregoing arrangement is such that the ejector means 44 carried by the casing is arranged for reciprocating movement over a longitudinal path, toward and l away from the discharge opening 36; and the ejeQtQr elethe discharge opening 36.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 8-12, it will be seen that many of the parts, although not identical with parts shown in Figures l-7, are intended to perform substantially the identical operation or function of parts disclosed and described hereinabove. Thus, the dispenser of Figures 8-12 comprises Aan open-sided casing, generally indicated at 100, having a lid 102, bottom 104, opposed end walls 106 and 103, and opposed side walls 110 and 112. Said casing 100 defines a chamber 101 within which a plurality of articles may be stored. A discharge opening 14 is provided at one end of the casing, defined between the upper edge of end wall 106 and the adjacent end of the lid 102. An elongated leaf spring 116 serves as bias means for biasing a stack of article-containing envelopes toward the lid 102. The elongated leaf spring 116 has a vertically disposed mounting flange 118 which is positioned in a slot 119 defined between the end wall 108 and an upstanding boss 120 carried by the bottom 104 of the casing. A tab 122 bent from flange 118 is adapted to frictionally engage upright boss 120 to provide means for retaining the leaf spring 116 in proper position within the casing.

The lid 102 is very simply hinged to the casing 100 Y by means of an upstanding rib 124 formed on end wall extending upwardly.

10S cooperating with a recess 126 formed in the under side of lid 102; and a strip of adhesive tape, or the like, secured to lid 102 and to end wall 108 maintains the lid 102 -in proper position on the casing 100. The lid 102 also carries a pair of downwardly extending flanges 128 which are adapted to enter casing and cooperate with recesses 130 defined in the manner surfaces of side walls and 112, so as to provide a manually releasable latch means for retaining the lid 102 in closed position on the casing. Manual manipulation of lid 102 will spring the latch connection so that the lid 102 may be opened as shown in Figure 8.

It will be seen that the side walls 110 and 112 and the end walls 106 and 108 have a slight outward taper This provision permits of molding the casing 110 and boss 120 as a unitary body from plastic or the like, and permits of the removal of the casing 100 from the mold therefor. Furthermore, this taper is'taken advantage of in the following manner.

The lid 102 is provided with an upstanding peripheral ridge, or flange 132, and the bottom of the casing 104 has a plurality of downwardly extending corner-shaped support feet 134. The dimension of the upstanding iian'ge 132 and of the downwardly depending feet 134 is so selected and arranged that one dispenser may be stacked above another dispenser with the corner-shaped feet 134 disposed in interiitting relation to the corners of the upstanding flange 132. This provides for ease in packing and storing. Furthermore, the stacking arrangement provides a space between the lower wall 104 of one casing and the lid 102 of the casing therebelow, Within which space the manual control for the ejector may be positioned.

Referring now to the ejector means, the lid 102 carries an ejector means, generally indicated at 136. Said ejector 136 includes an ejector element 138 located inwardly of the lid 102, within the interior of casing 100, a manual control 140 extending outwardly of lid 102, and a neck portion 139 interconnecting the manual control 140 and the ejector element 138.

ln further detail, the lid 102 defines a generally rectangular aperture 142. A portion of aperture 142 is enlarged in width, thereby defining an enlarged aperture portion 144 of greatest width, a forwardly extending narrower portion 146, and a rearwardly extending narrower portion 148. The manual control 140 of ejector 136 defines outwardly extending tianges 150 which are adapted to iit through the enlarged aperture portion 144, but which are arranged to overlie the edges of theA reduced aperture portion 146, as seen in Figure 10. 'I'he neck portion 139 is arranged to pass through aperture portion 146, as seen in Figure l0. The ejector element 138 of the ejector means 136 defines a pair of upstanding rails, or elongated bosses, 152 which are arranged to engage the under side of the lid 102. There is provided a rearward extension 154 of neck portion 139 which is adapted to enter the reduced aperture portion 148 when the ejector means 136 is in the retracted position. The neck 139 and extension 154 on ejector means 136 cooperate with the edges of portions 146 and 148 of aperture 142 to define the track means which limits movement of saidejector 136 along a predetermined path of predetermined length.

The `ejector element 138 defines a pair of forwardly extending elements, or -iingers, 1156 which are spaced from the under surface of the lid 102 by means of rails 152, so as to insure the entering of the tips of ingers 156 into the crotch formed between the flap D and the envelope A, so as to insure the proper engagement of the ejector element with an article-containing envelope and the effecting of the discharge thereof. The tips ofiingers 156 are beveled `at the angle o. preferably in the range of 7. The central portion of theejector element 138 between the fingers 156, -is reduced on the under side thereof at 158 to provide a space allowance between said reduced portion 158 and the upper edge 160 of the end wall 106 to provide a central enlarged portion of discharge opening 114 which will permit longitudinal passage therealong of the article-filled section of the envelope A. The reduction 158 may be obtained, forexample, by beveling the under side of ejector element 138 from edge 159 at an angle in the range of 15.

The spacing of Yfingers 156 from the under surface of lid 102 also provides that when said iingers 156 protrude through the discharge opening 114 they will be spaced closer to the upper edge 160 of end wall 106 so as to define thinner passageway portions for accommodating passage therethrough of the thinner longitudinal portions of an article-containing envelope, while said reduction 158 cooperates with edge 160 to permit of longitudinal passage therealong of the'article-containing portion of the envelope. The size of the cooperating-parts defining 6 dischargeopening 114-is such as to permit'dischargev of only one article-containing'envelope at a time.

At one end of the path 'of travel of the ejector 136, the ends of `fingers 156 protrude through discharge opening 114, and at the other end tof its path of travel, as shown in Figure 9, the ends of fingers 156 are spaced from dis charge opening 114 to vexpo-se an abutment portion 103 of lid 102, against which -abutment portion the uppermost one of the stack of envelopes is lbiased by means of spring i116.

The rearwardly extending length of ejector element 138 is such as to provide -a tail, or extension, 162 of such length as to engage end wall 108 of casing 100 when it is attempted to retract the ejector means 136 to a position where the manual control portion 140 may be pushed inwardly of the enlarged opening 144 in the lid 102. This arrangement prevents inadvertent `dislocation or disassembly of the ejector means' 136 from the casing lid 102. However, when the casing lid 102 is fully opened, it is possible to align the parts so as to assemble the ejector means 136 on the casing lid 102. Thus, each of the parts shown in Figures 11 and 12 may be separately molded of plastic or the like, and the foregoing arrangement permits of Aease of assembly of the parts to form the completed product.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes land modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the Vappended claims to cover all such changes' and modifications as fall within the true spirit land scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patents of the United States, is:

1. A dispenser for singly dispensing therefrom elongated flattened article-containing envelopes wherein longitudinal edge portions of each said envelope are thinner than the remainder of the envelope and Vwherein said envelope has ejector-engaging means thereon; said fdispenser comprising casing means defining an elongated chamber therein adapted to receive aplurality of sa-id elongated envelopes with their said thinner longitudinal portions aligned, said casing means defininga discharge opening through which singleones of said envelopes may be longitudinally discharged, said kchamber being of a dimension to prevent any substantial lateral or longitudinal displacement of the envelopes relative to each other, ejector means carried by said casing and arranged for reciprocating movement toward and away from said discharge opening, said ejector means includingspaced ejector elements disposed in said chamber wherein the envelopes are positioned yand arranged to be reciprocated along predetermined longitudinal paths'whi'ch are in alignment with said thinner longitudinal edge portionsofsaid envelopes, at one end of which path a port-ion'of each said ejector element extends outwardly of said casing through said discharge opening and at the other end of which path each said ejector element is retracted within said chamber and is spaced from said discharge opening, said casing dening an abutment wall which is exposed when said ejector element is retracted, biasmeans within said chamber adapted to bias the thicker article-containing 'portions of said envelopes in said chamber toward said abutment wall, said ejector element being arranged to pass between said envelopes and said abutment wall during the action of said ejector element in the dispensing of van envelope, said -abutment wall being arranged adjacent said discharge opening so that the envelope which abuts said abutment wall is aligned with said discharge opening, and means for insuring only single dispensing of said envelopes from said casing.

2. A `dispenser for singly dispensing therefromelongated attened article-containing envelopes whereinl a 1ongitudinal portion of each said envelope -is thinner than the remainder ofthe envelope'and wherein said envelope has ejector-engaging means thereon; said dispenser comprising casing means deliri-ing an elongated chamber adapted to receive therein a plurality of said elongated envelopes with `their said thinner longitudinal portions aligned, said casing means defining a discharge opening through which single ones of said envelopes may be longitudinally discharged, said chamber being of a dimension -to prevent any substantial lateral or longitudinal displacement kof the envelopes relative to each other, ejectormeans carried by said casing and arranged for reciprocating movement toward and away from said discharge opening, said ejector means including an ejector element disposed in said chamber wherein the envelopes are positioned and arranged to be reciprocated along a predetermined longitudinal path, at one end of which, path a portion of said ejector element extends outwardly t of said casing through said discharge opening and at the other end of which path said ejector element is retracted within said chamber and is spaced from said discharge opening, said casing defining an abutment wall which is exposed when said ejector element is retracted, bias means within said chamber adapted to bias the envelopes in said chamber toward said abutment wall, said ejector element being arranged to pass between said envelopes and said abutment wall during the action of said ejector element in the dispensing of an envelope, said abutment wall being arranged adjacent said discharge opening so that the envelope which abuts said abutment wall is aligned with said discharge opening, and means for insuring only single dispensing of said envelopes from said casing, said latter means including a shoulder formed in said casing adjacent said discharge opening, lsaid shoulder being of lesser width than the width of said discharge opening and being positioned and arranged/to intercept the leading edge of the article-containing portion of the next-to-top envelope of a stack of envelopes.

3. A dispense-r for singly dispensing therefrom elongated attened article-containing envelopes wherein a longitudinal portion of each said envelope is thinner than the article containing remainder of the envelope and wherein said envelope has ejector-engaging means thereon; saiddispenser comprising casing means defining an elongated chamber therein `adapted `to receive a plurality of said elongated envelopes with their said thinner longitudinal portions aligned, said casing means dening a discharge opening through which single ones of said envelopes may be longitudinally discharged, said chamber being of a dimension to prevent any substantial lateral or longitudinal displacement of the envelopes relative to each other, ejector means carried by said casing and arranged =for reciprocating movement toward and away from said discharge opening, said ejector means including an ejector element disposed in said chamber wherein the envelopes are positioned and arranged to be reciprocated along a predetermined longitudinal path, at one end of .which path a portion of said ejector element extends outwardly of said casing through said discharge opening and .at the other end of which path said ejector element is retracted within said chamber and is spaced from said discharge opening, said casing dening an abutment wall which is exposed when said ejector element is retracted, bias means within said chamber adapted to bias the envelopes in said chamber toward said abutment wall, said ejector element ybei-ng arranged to pass between said envelopes and said abutment wall during the action of said ejector element in the dispending of an envelope, said .abutment wall being arranged adjacent saidv discharge opening so that the envelope which abuts said abutment wall is aligned with said discharge opening, and means for insuring only single dispensing of said envelopes from said casing, said latter means including the shape and dimension of said discharge opening being selected to nor- Y mally accommodate longitudinal passage therethrough of only one article-containing envelope, said ejector element being arranged relative to said discharge opening so that when said ejector element extends through said discharge opening a rst portion of said ejector element cooperates with said discharge opening to dene a relatively thin passageway therebetween through which the longitudinal thinner portion of each envelope is adapted to pass and a second portion of said ejector element cooperates with said discharge opening to dene a relatively wider passageway through which the remainder of each envelope is `adapted 4to pass.

4. A dispenser for singly dispensing therefrom elongated attened article-containing envelopes wherein a longitudinal portion of each said envelope is thinner than the remainder of the envelope and wherein said envelope has ejector-engaging means thereon; said dispenser comprising casing means defining an elongated chamber therein adapted to receive a plurality of said elongated envelopes with their said thinner longitudinal portions aligned, said casing means dening a discharge opening through which single ones of said envelopes may be longitudinally discharged, said chamber being of a dimension to prevent any substantial lateral or longitudinal displacement of the envelopes relative to each other, ejector means carried by said casing and arranged for reciprocating movement toward and away from said discharge opening, said ejector means including an ejector element disposed in said chamber wherein the envelopes are positioned and arranged to be reciprocated ralong a predetermined longitudinal path, at one end of which path a portion of said ejector element extends outwardly of said casing through said discharge opening and at the other end of which path said ejector element is retracted within said chamber and is spaced from said discharge opening,

said casing deiining an abutment wall which is exposed when said ejector element is retracted, bias means within said chamber adapted to bias the envelopes in said chamber toward said abutment wall, said ejector element being -arranged to pass between said envelopes and said abutment wall during the action of said ejector element in the dispensing of an envelope, said abutment wall being arranged adjacent said discharge opening so that the envelope which abuts said abutment wall is aligned with said discharge opening, and means for insuring only single dispensing of said envelopes from said casing, said latter means including the shape and dimension of said discharge opening being selected to normally accommodate longitudinal passage therethrough of only one articlecontaining envelope, said ejector element being arranged relative to said discharge opening so that when said ejector element extends through said discharge opening a iirst portion of said ejector element cooperates with said discharge opening to define a relatively thin passageway therebetween through which the longitudinal thinner portion of each envelope is adapted to pass and a second por- -tion of said ejector element cooperates with said discharge opening to define a relatively wider passageway through which the remainder of each envelope is adapted to pass, a shoulder formed in said casing adjacent said discharge opening arranged to intercept a portion of the leading edge of the next-to-top envelope of -a stack of envelopes, and the portion of said discharge opening, which cooperates with said irst portion of said ejector element to devtine said relatively thin passageway therebetween, being Y aligned, said casing means dening a discharge opening through which single ones of said envelopes may be longi- 9 tudinally discharged,:said chamber beingof a dimension to v,prevent any substantial lateral or longitudinal displacement of the envelopes relative to each other, ejector means carried by said casing and arranged for reciprocating movement toward andaway from said discharge opening, said ejector means including an ejector element disposed in said chamber wherein the envelopes are positioned and arranged to be reciprocated along a predetermined longitudinal path, at one end of which Vpath a portion` of said ejector element extends outwardly of said casing through said discharge opening and at the other end of which path said ejector element is retracted within said chamber and is spaced from said discharge opening, said casing defining an abutment wall which is exposed when said ejector element is retracted, bias means within said chamber adapted to bias the envelopes in said chamber toward said abutment wall, said ejector element being arranged to pass between said envelopes and said abutment wall during the action of said ejector element in -the dispensing of an envelope, said abutment wall being arranged ladjacent said discharge opening so that the envelope which abuts said abutment wall is aligned with said discharge opening, means for insuring only single dispensing of said envelopes from said casing, said latter means including the shape and dimension of said dis- .charge opening being selected to normally accommodate longitudinal passage therethrough of only one anticlecontaining envelope, said ejector element being arranged relative to said discharge opening so that when said ejector element extends through said discharge opening la first portion of said ejector element cooperates with said discharge opening to deiine a relatively thin passageway therebetween through which the longitudinal thinner portion of each envelope is adapted to pass and a second portion of said ejector element cooperates with said discharge opening to dene a relatively wider passageway through which the remainder of each envelope is adapted to pass, and said iirst portion of the ejector element being spaced from said abutment wall to provide for engagement thereof with the ejector-engaging means on an envelope.

6. A dispenser for singly dispensing therefrom elongated iiattened -articlecontaining envelopes wherein longitudinal edge portions of each said envelope are thinner than the remainder of the envelope and wherein said envelope has ejector-engaging means thereon; said dispenser comprising casing means including an open-sided container and a door for selectively closing the open-sided container or for providing access to the interior thereof, said casing means defining an elongated chamber therein adapted -to receive a plurality of said elongated envelopes with their said thinner longitudinal portions aligned, said casing means defining a discharge opening through which single ones of said envelopes may be longitudinally discharged, said chamber being of a dimension to prevent any substantial lateral or longitudinal displacement of the envelopes yrelative to each other, ejector means carried by said door and arranged for reciprocating movement toward and away from said discharge opening, said ejector means including spaced ejector elements disposed in said chamber wherein the envelopes are positioned and arranged to be reciprocated along predetermined longitudinal paths which are in alignment with said thinner longitudinal edge portions of said envelopes, at one end of which path a portion of each said ejector element extends outwardly of said casing through said discharge opening and at the other end of which path each said ejector element is retracted within said chamber land is spaced from said discharge opening to expose an abutment portion of said door, an elongated leaf spring carried at one end by said open-sided container and at the other end of said spring being biased toward the abutment portion thereof said door to force the thicker articlecontaining portions of said envelopes in said chamber toward said abutment portion of said door, said ejector element being arranged topass between said envelopes and said'abutment-wall during the action of said ejector element in the dispensing of an envelopesaid abutment portion of the door being arranged-adjacent said discharge opening so that the envelope which abuts thereagainst is aligned with said discharge opening, and means .for insuring only single dispensing ofisaid envelopes from said casing.

7. A dispenser for singly dispensing therefrom elongated attened article-containing envelopes wherein a longitudinal portion of each saidlenvelope is thinner than the remainder of the envelope and wherein said .envelope has ejector-engaging means thereon; said dispenser comprising casing means -having top and bottom walls and dening an elongated chamber therein adapted to receive a plurality of saidelongated envelopes with their'said thinner longitudinal portions aligned, said casing means delning a discharge opening in a side wall of said cas ing through which single ones of said envelopes may be longitudinally discharged, ejector means carried by said casing and arranged for reciprocating movement toward and away from said dischargeopening, said ejector means including a manual control element extending outwardly of the top wall of the casing and an ejector element disposed in said chamber wherein the envelopes are positioned and arranged to be reciprocated along a predetermined longitudinal path, at one end of which path a portion of said ejector element extends laterally outwardly of said casing through said discharge opening and at the other end of which path said ejector element is retracted within said chamber, an upstanding ridge on the periphery of said top wall of said casing means, support feet on the exterior of the bottom wall of said casing means, said support feet and upstanding ridge being shaped and arranged to permit stacking of one dispenser above another and so as to provide a recess between a pair of stacked dispensers wherein the manual control element of the lower dispenser may be disposed.

8. A dispenser for singly dispensing therefrom elongated flattened article-containing envelopes wherein a longitudinal portion of each said envelope is thinner than the remainder of the envelope and wherein said envelope has ejector-engaging means thereon; said dispenser comprising casing means including an open-sided container and a door for selectively closing the open-sided container or for providing access to the interior thereof, said casing means defining an elongated chamber therein adapted to receive a plurality of said elongated envelopes with their said thinner longitudinal portions aligned, said casing means dening a discharge opening through which single ones of said envelopes may be longitudinally discharged, ejector rneans carried by said door and arranged for reciprocating movement toward and away from said discharge opening, said ejector means including an ejector element disposed in said chamber wherein the envelopes are positioned and arranged to be reciprocated along a predetermined longitudinal path, at one end of which path a portion of said ejector' element extends out-- wardly of said casing through said discharge opening and at the other end of which path said ejector element is retracted within said chamber and said door and ejector means being dimensioned and arranged with cooperating tongue `and groove elements and with an enlarged recess in said door spaced from said discharge opening which permits assembly of said ejector means on said door when the door is open and which prevents inadvertent disassembly of said ejector from said door when the door is closed.

9. A dispenser for singly dispensing therefrom elongated flattened article-containing envelopes wherein the longitudinal edge portions of each said envelope are thinner than the remainder of the envelope and wherein said envelope has ejector-engaging means thereon; said dispenser comprising casing means dening an elongated chamber therein ladapted to receive a plurality of said elongated envelopes with their said thinnerlongitudinal portions aligned, said casing means dening ya discharge opening through which single ones of said envelopes may be longitudinally discharged, ejector means carried by said casing and arranged for reciprocating movement toward and v away from said discharge opening, said ejector means including an ejector element having a pair of spaced extensions whose spacing is at least as large as the width of the article-containing portion of an envelope and which extensions 'are adapted to cooperate with said thinner longitudinal portions at the longitudinal edges of an articlecontaining envelope, said ejector element being disposed in said chamber wherein the envelopes are positioned and arranged to be reciprocated lalong a predetermined longitudinal path, at one end of which path said spaced eX- tensions of said ejector element extend outwardly of said casing through said discharge opening and at the other end of which path said extensions are retracted within said chamber and are spaced from said discharge opening, a portion of said ejector element between said pair of spaced extensions being recessed to accommodate longitudinal passage therealong of the article-containing portion of an envelope, said casing dening an abutment Wall which is exposed when said ejector element is retracted, bias means Within said chamber `adapted to bias the envelopes in said chamber toward said abutment wall, said ejector element being arranged to pass: between s'aid envelopes and said abutment wall during the action of said ejector element in the dispensing of an envelope, said abutment wall being arranged adjacent said discharge opening so that the envelope which abuts said abutment wall is aligned with said discharge opening, and means for insuring only single dispensing of said envelopes from said casing.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 58,357 Lamontagne Sept. 25, 1866 538,173 Loewenbach et al. Apr. 23, 1895 536,627 Housh Apr. 2, 1895 868,773 Gorham et al. Oct. 22, 1907 894,246 Vierling July 28, 1908 914,993` Thexton Mar. 9, 1909 1,294,997 Bernier Feb. 18, 1919 1,477,501 Keenan Dec. ll, 1923 1,503,144 Warwick July 29, 1924 1,666,095 Jackson Apr. 17, 1928 1,734,644 Ostrander et al Nov. 5, 1929 1,756,418 Woods Apr. 29, 1930 2,325,363 Blake July 27, 1943 2,862,642 Shipman Dec. 2, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 64,343 Germany Sept'. 6, 1892 269,273 Italy Nov. 14, 1929 

